US colour concentrate, compounds and additive masterbatch producer Plastics Color Corp (PCC, Calumet City, Illinois; www.plasticscolor.com) has launched a range of silver ion-based antimicrobial formulations suitable for use in medical devices, medical packaging, appliances and other consumer applications. The "MicroBlok" formulations are designed to impede the growth of a wide spectrum of microorganisms on the surfaces of plastics such as TPU, PE, PP, PC and ABS.

Fred Jhaveri, PCC global technical manager, said: "MicroBlok inhibits the growth of bacteria which may cause stains, odors and product deterioration." PCC said the silver ion-based antimicrobials are dispersed throughout the polymer matrix and, because the silver ions are not depleted during the inhibition process, the antimicrobial effects do not diminish over time.